Ragged Guard ETO (id:#66943)

(Schwerpunkt #24 ID: SP277)   [next]   [previous]

Borsava, Slovakia 1938-10-09 (0 others)

Overview:

Hungary suffered huge territory losses from the treaties ending World War I, many of which had majority ethnic Hungarians. Hungary's main strategy during the interwar years was to try and regain those territories through peaceful diplomacy. However, the ability of German to occupy the Rhineland, Austria, and the Sudetenland via military threats inspired new Hungarian tactics. Lacking the military might, Hungary "unofficially" supported a paramilitary militia called Rongyos Garda (Ragged Guard). With Germans occupying the Sudentenland in September, and Czechoslovakia breaking up, into autonomous governments of the Czech and Slovakia on October 6th, the Hungarians decided that the time was ripe for more aggressive negotiation tactics for claiming southern Slovakia. On October 8th, the Ragged Guard clashed with border guards, and entered southern Slovakia to seize towns and inspire partisan activity. At Borsava, the Ragged Guard occupied the train station. The border units counterattacked the Ragged Guard at Borsava the next day, with artillery and tanks in support.

Defender: Hungarian (Ragged Guards)  

Errata (source)